The Laforet Grand Bazar is one of the summer highlights for shoppers in Harajuku. For five days the trendsetting fashion department store/mall Laforet Harajuku has pretty much a fire sale — everything is being sold at considerably reduced prices (50-70% bargains are common). The word of the day is taimusēru (タイムサール) — bargains for a limited time. All the small shops inside Laforet are specially decorated and the young salespeople go to great lengths to advertise their merchandise.

And this is what I like best: the cacophony of all the people shouting and making noise to get the attention of crowds of shoppers is breathtaking. No problem for me to sneak through the thirteen floors of the department store, snapping pictures of people hard at work or shopping. So even if you do not plan to buy new clothes, check out this very exciting shopping experience when the Laforetbuilding truly turns into a loud and bustling vertical bazaar with many dozens of individual stalls.

Young saleswoman holding a sign in front of her store.

Another woman advertising half-price bargains.

Blonde girl hawking purple shoes in Laforet.

A female shopper busy among the crowd in a clothing store.

Like this girl, many of the salespeople used simple megaphones to advertise their stuff.

Girl making the v-sign despite holding a sign.

Another girl using a plastic megaphone to get the attention of visitors.

Another store employee trying her best to lure customers to a shop.

A young saleswoman having fun doing her job in Laforet

Bargains rule at the Laforet Grand Bazar.

Two shopgirls shouting and making noise to attract costumers.

A Japanese guy with an oversized and sequined bow-tie using a megaphone to advertise bargains.

A snapshot from the Laforet Grand Bazar sale in Harajuku

Real airhead mannequins at the Grand Bazar.

Girl sporting a flower chain headdress selling clothes.

Two guys holding signs inviting shoppers to their store.

A fashionable female shopper examining some accessories.

One last shot of a shopgirl hollering in the Laforet Harajuku summer sale.